1. Nutritional Adequacy: As babies grow, their nutritional needs change, so we need to ensure they receive a balanced diet, including essential nutrients like iron.
2. Preventing Deficiencies: Proper introduction helps prevent nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency, which is common in infants around 6 months of age.
3 Developmental Milestones:
- Oro-motor skills: Introducing solids helps develop the muscles in the mouth and jaws, and the coordination of these muscles, which are important for chewing and speaking.
- Hand-Eye Coordination: Baby led weaning or infant-led feeding practices, like picking up finger foods, enhance hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
4. Taste and Texture Acceptance:
- Variety of Flavors: Early exposure to different tastes and textures can help babies develop a willingness to try new foods and may prevent picky eating habits later in life.
- Texture Progression: Gradually introducing varied textures helps babies transition from purees to more complex foods, promoting proper chewing and swallowing abilities.
5. The Development of Healthy Eating Habits: Correct introduction can foster a healthy positive relationship with food, where they eat nutritious foods in appropriate amounts.
6. Preventing Food Allergy: Introducing allergenic foods (like peanuts, eggs, and fish) at the appropriate time may help reduce the risk of food allergies.
7. Digestive System/ Gut Health: Introducing solids at the right time ensures that their digestive system is ready to start digesting a whole new world of protein and fibres. Starting too early can cause gastrointestinal issues.
8. Long-term Health: Establishing healthy eating patterns early on can reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases later in life.
